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Buttercream Frosting Recipe

The traditional choice for flavor and versatility. Vanilla buttercream frosting is softer and more spreadable than most icings. Use for icing cakes, piping borders, writing, flowers, etc. Buttercream can also be prepared with all shortening, resulting in a pure white icing.

If using a hand mixer, beat shortening, butter (if used) and liquids first, then add sugar, as above. Make one batch at a time to prevent hand mixer from burning out.

Depending on the humidity and climate, it may be necessary to adjust the liquid and the sugar in your icing. If icing looks dry, add small amounts of liquid (1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon at a time). If icing is too wet, add 1 tablespoon of sugar at a time. The key for both adjustments is adding small amounts until you achieve the right consistency.

This recipe can be made with all butter by replacing 1/2 cup of shortening with 1/2 cup of butter. An all-butter recipe will make a noticeably softer buttercream and will also melt faster than a recipe made with shortening.

If you find that this recipe is too sweet, consider using a pinch of salt, which will help cut the sweetness. Let the pinch of salt dissolve in your liquid to avoid granules of salt in the buttercream. Try substituting some of the butter in the recipe with salted butter.

Adding Flavor: Wilton’s Buttercream Icing recipe is a great base for your favorite flavorings and extracts. Add flavoring to taste, but be mindful not to add so much liquid that it affects the consistency of your icing. If you like using a lot of flavor, try substituting some of your liquid with flavoring.

Try using the Treatology Flavor System, designed specifically for decorating. Because these flavors are concentrated, you’ll only need to use a few drops. You can also mix them to create new flavors. In addition, the Treatology Flavor System can be used to flavor cake batter and other baked goods without affecting the consistency of your batter.

Clear Flavors are also a great option for adding flavor to buttercream without adding color. These flavors are essential for making pure white icing and maintaining vibrant colors for decorating.

Storing Buttercream: Leftover buttercream can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. Buttercream can also be frozen for up to six months. Before reusing, bring buttercream back to room temperature and rewhip using a paddle attachment until it’s back to the correct consistency.

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Whether you are frosting a cake or piping decorations, the consistency of the icing is key to getting the right results. Too soft and your decorations will droop. Too stiff and your icing will be difficult to spread.

Make flowers, rosettes and other decorations in advance using our hard-drying stiff consistency Royal Icing. This smooth, hard-drying icing is perfect for making decorations that last. It is also useful as a "cement" to fasten decorations together. Royal icing is edible, but not recommended for icing cakes.

Rated 5 out of
5 by
lori from
Awesome buttercream frosting!Always bought my buttercream frosting but Never again. So easy and turned out the first time.

Date published: 2018-03-27

Rated 5 out of
5 by
Penndale Pastry from
Love this recipeCannot improve at all. Just thinned mine out with 2 additional teaspoons milk

Date published: 2018-03-16

Rated 5 out of
5 by
Dsalcoda from
Perfect Buttercream Recipe!This is my base buttercream buttercream recipe. I am starting to use slightly less shortening and more butter. I am able to stretch this recipe to 2 1/2 - 3 cups of frosting.